Queensland issues Infinity cable recall

The Queensland Government’s Electrical Safety Office has issued a recall of the Infinity Cable Co’s electrical building cables. The NSW Office of Fair Trading issued a recall of the product last week but, until now, no other Australian states or territories have followed suit, prompting outcry from industry bodies such as Master Electricians Australia (MEA).

MEA chief executive Malcolm Richards has welcomed Queensland Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie’s decision to recall the product so quickly after MEA highlighted the discrepancy in state and territory reactions to the initial recall.

“The faulty cable is a ticking time bomb in roof spaces of affected homes and I congratulate Mr Bleijie for putting the safety of Queensland people first and taking immediate action,” Richards said.

“We still have major concerns that the cable was able to be sold to Australian consumers without first being required to be tested to ensure it complied with Australian standards.

“There are some very worrying failures in Australia’s electrical safety laws but right now we are grateful for the state government’s swift response and we are looking forward to working with them in the future to ensure safety for all Queenslanders.”

According to the NSW Office of Fair Trading, there are “deficiencies in the manufacturing of Infinity cables”. It said the cable’s insulation could deteriorate and cause wires to become exposed, potentially resulting in an electric shock or fire.

The cable has been sold through the Masters Home Improvement chain. Unused cables can be returned to the point of sale in NSW and Queensland for a refund under Australian Consumer Law.